Chapter two of the book of Judges gives an overview of the rest of the book. After the death of Joshua and the generation that had followed him in conquering the Promised Land, the next generation did not know God or what He had done for Israel. They began to worship other gods, bringing God’s judgment upon them. Whenever the Israelites would cry out to God, He would raise up judges to save them, but they did not listen to them. Whenever a judge died, they would act more corruptly than before. Caleb’s nephew Othniel was the first judge of Israel. He brought 40 years of peace to Israel. Ehud the left-handed assassin was the second judge, killing the Moabite king. He brought 80 years of peace. The third judge, Shamgar killed 600 Philistine’s with a cattle prod. The fifth judge was Deborah, who led to peace for forty years. Gideon, the sixth judge, tore down the altars to Baal and Ashtoreth and led an army of 300 to defeat the Midianites. This led to a 40-year time of peace. Tola was the 7^th judge, and he judged for 23 years. The 8^th judge was Jair, who judged for 22 years. Jephthah was the 9^th judge of Israel for 6 years. The 10^th judge was Ibzan for 7 years. Elon followed him and judged for 10 years. Abdon judged for 8 years after Elon. Samson was the final judge of Israel. He judged for 20 years. Throughout the book, the people of Israel continually became more wicked. The judges themselves became more wicked. The last several chapters demonstrate how wicked the people had become. A Benjamite city raped a man’s concubine to the point of killing her, which led to civil war. The final verse says, “In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did whatever seemed right to him.”[1] This looks forward to a king as salvation of the people.

God had given the ten commandments to the Israelites. The first two tell Israel to remember that God is one and to have no idols. Yet the Israelites in the land began to worship idols. They turned away from God and began to disobey the other commandments as well. God sent judgement on them because of their sin. They would be overtaken by enemies. Yet God would raise up a series of judges to save them. Each time, after the judge died, the people became more evil than before. Eventually, the judges themselves had become wicked. This ends in a civil war between the tribe of Benjamin and the rest of Israel. The final verse says, “In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did whatever seemed right to him.”[2] This looks forward to a king as salvation of the people.

The people of Israel began well in the land. They went out and began conquering. But after the generation of Joshua died, the next generation was corrupt. They began chasing other gods and living wickedly in the land. As God delivered them, they turned more wicked. They did not finish well. The goal for the believer is to become progressively more like Jesus. The people of Israel became increasingly corrupt, but God has called us to become increasingly holy through the sanctification of the Holy Spirit. The people of Israel could not live in holiness in their own power, but we can through His power. I must determine to grow in holiness by relying on His Spirit each day.